After few minutes Sakura slowly stood up and began to look around the room once again, this time more carefully. In the corner of the room she noticed a book that didn't resembled any in the room. She picked it up and noticed a name on the cover.

'Shaoran...' she read aloud. She were just to open the book when she heard angry voice from behind.

'Hey, what are you doing here?!'

Sakura jumped up, startled by the sudden yell and turned around.

'I-I'm sorry. I'm just looking for a friend and...' she started the explanation and then her eyes fixed on the person who yelled at her. Or rather a former person, to be exact. The girl cried in fear dropping the book, which hit the floor and opened, and moving away from the person. 'G-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g...'

'G-?' asked the person puzzled. He was a young boy, around 17 years old. His hair were brown and short length. He was wearing green, Chinese, short-sleeved shirt and light-brown pants. He looked rather normal, apart from the fact he was transparent.

'G-g-g-g-GHOST!' cried Sakura hiding in the corner of the room. 'P-p-please don't h-h-h-hurt me'

'I'm not going to hurt you' the boy reassured her. Then he looked at her more puzzled. 'Wait, you can see me?'

Sakura slowly nodded. 'Is that weird?' she asked.

'Well... I think normally people don't see ghosts' the boy answered rubbing his chin. 'Maybe you're special...'

'So you're really a ghost?' asked Sakura with trebling voice.

'Looks like it' said the boy. 'Although I don't remember anything about my previous life'

'Even your name?' Sakura was surprised. The boy shook his head, then looked at the girl.

'I'm sorry that I startled you' he said. Sakura shook her head and stood up.

'No, it's okay. It's my fault I'm such a crybaby' she answered. Her eyes caught the book, which now was opened. 'Ah, this book' the girl said picking it up. It was filled with beautiful drawings. She closed the book and looked at the cover. 'Could it be... you're Shaoran?' she asked.

The boy jerked at the sound of the name. 'That's... right. I'm Shaoran Li' he said slowly.

'Li? Like the royal family, which used to live here?' she asked. 'I remember Gran once saying that name'

'Yes, I am... I was the oldest son of the Li family which used to rule this country' answered Shaoran.

'Looks like some of your memory is back' Sakura smiled.

'Only a little. I still don't remember many things' said the boy. There was awkward silence.

'I... I can help you regain your memories, if you like' suddenly said Sakura, breaking the silence. Shaoran looked at her surprized.

'Are you sure? I don't want to impose...' he said.

'It's okay. I like helping others' Sakura smiled. 'So I will search for Tomoyo-chan and help you get your memories back at the same time'

'Well, thank you then' the boy bowed leaving the girl shocked.

'W-Why did you bow?' she asked. Shaoran straightened and looked at her.

'I'm sorry. That's how I was taught to thank people for their help' he replied. 'Does that bother you?'

'No... I mean yes... I mean...' Sakura was trying to answer without hurting boy's feelings. 'Just... treat me as friend, okay?' she finally said. 'Friends don't need to bow to each other'

'I'll try' Shaoran answered smiling. 'Then let's go, shall we?'

'Okay' answered Sakura putting the book she had picked up into her bag. She turned around to see the boy left already. She sighed and moved towards the door, when she noticed a piece of paper which didn't look as it belong to the room. She picked it up and scanned it. 'Better take it with me' she decided, putting the paper into the bag and finally leaving the room. Shaoran stood there waiting for her.

'May I ask you something, miss….?' started Shaoran.

'Ah, my name is Sakura' the girl answered turning red. 'Guess I forgot to present myself' she giggled at her own clumsiness. 'But you wanted to ask something…'

'Yes. You mentioned someone you're looking for… Tomoyo-chan, was it?' said Shaoran. 'Is she a friend of yours?'

'Yes, Tomoyo-chan is my childhood friend' answered Sakura. 'I live with her and her mother. I guess she's like a sister to me' Sakura smiled at the thought.

'A… sister?' asked the boy. Sakura gave him a puzzled look.

'Is something wrong? You look pale' she noticed. The boy didn't answer, but before Sakura could react, he ran off and disappeared behind the corner of the corridor. 'Wha…? Shaoran? Where are you going? Wait up!' she cried and ran after him, but she couldn't spot him anywhere.

She looked around hopelessly wondering, what she should do next. She spotted a door at the end of the corridor she stood in. 'I can as well check this room' she decided with a shrug and made her way towards the door. She slowly opened them and peeked inside. Inside, on the left side, there was a small table filled with books and some papers on it, behind it stood the bookcase filled with more books. On the right side of the room stood a small bed and small cabinet. On the centre of the room stood big black piano. Sakura pushed the door open and stepped inside the room.

'It looks like some child's room' she said, noticing few paper sheets with doodles on them. She approached the desk and immediately noticed handwritten piece. Picking it up, she noticed it was a letter. It was partly destroyed, but readable.

Big brother…

I'm really sorry but… because… passed… I… to… you again…

Please leave me alone… …. a while…

Mei

Sakura was looking at the letter for few minutes, but eventually she put it away. 'It's no use. I can't get anything more from this' she complained with a sigh and looked at the letter again. 'Big brother… could this be referring to Shaoran…?' she wondered. She scanned the room and noticed a small desk with a book on it. She moved closer and opened it. 'It looks like a diary' she said to herself, looking through the pages. She stopped at the random page and started reading.

15th January,

Today my sister was messing about with us again. It's annoying about how she can a bit pushy at times. But with the help of big brother I came up with a plan…

We stole her favourite teddy, and placed a fake rat under her pillow. And then, the next morning…

She screamed and ran around her room. I was laughing for a while until Mummy and Daddy told us off for the prank. I did get into trouble, but it was fun with big brother… I couldn't help but be very happy…

My brother and I were really close. We usually spent a lot of time together. Just my big brother and me… Every night he would read me a story or sing me to sleep.

For my 7th birthday he even went as far as buying a black ebony piano. Just for me! I was really happy and we hugged for hours!

He was a great brother! Every morning he would teach me how to play a tune and he would smile every time I played a good song myself.

I love my big brother! He's the best I could have!

Meiling

Sakura couldn't help but smile while reading the entry. 'How nice of him…' she said closing the diary. She turned around and faced the piano. It was awfully dusty, but after checking few keys Sakura noticed it was still tuned. 'Such a long time since I played the piano…' she whispered sitting down. 'I wonder if I still remember something…' she wondered placing her fingers on the keys. It turned out that even she herself didn't remember the melody, her fingers didn't forget it. Soon the room was filled with lovely piano music. Sakura's fingers jumped from one key to another in perfect sync and the music flew.

'That was beautiful' she heard the boy's voice when she hit the last note. She smiled and turned around to face her ghost-friend.

'I used to play the piano when I was little. Guess my fingers didn't forget that' she answered.

'You are very talented, Sakura-san' Shaoran said, his eyes filled with enchantment.

'Thank you' Sakura felt as her face turned red, so she quickly changed the subject. 'But what happened? You suddenly ran off. I couldn't found you…'

'Oh yes, I deeply apologize for my inappropriate behaviour' Shaoran said, sadness and shame on his face. Sakura giggled a little.

'There you go again with your sophisticated language' she said. 'You can talk to me in a normal way'

'But… it is a normal way for me… how else should I talk to you?' he asked puzzled with the girl's request.

'Like you talk to a friend' she answered simple as it is. 'I'm sure you had at least one friend, when you were…' she stopped looking a little guilty.

'Alive.' finished Shaoran. 'I know' he sighed and then smile came back to his face. 'I will try' he said finally.

'Good, then I have one more request' answered Sakura. The boy gave her a surprised look and she continued. 'Call me Sakura' she finished with a smile. The boy smiled back and nodded. 'Then… why did you ran off like that?' she came back to the previous question.

'Ah, I'm sorry, but something you said made me feel a little… uncomfortable' Shaoran answered.

'Something I said?' asked Sakura wondering, what could she possibly have said to make the boy feel uncomfortable.

'It's nothing, really' said Shaoran. 'It's just… you said this friend of yours is like a sister to you… and I remembered… I had a sister… two actually, one was older and the other one was younger. But they both tended to call me big brother'

'That's great, Shaoran! You seem to start remembering things!' Sakura said with joy.

'Yes, I may be able to move on after all' answered the boy smiling.

'Move on?'

'Yes, you see, I've been stuck in this place for quite a long time. The reason for it is that I didn't remember my past. But now, when I start to remember…' the answer came. Sakura smiled back.

'Let's go' she said. 'We still haven't seen the whole house'

They both left Meiling's room and went along the corridor. Sakura was guiding and Shaoran simply followed. They entered a big room with few paintings hanging on the wall, and long table on the left side of the room. Sakura approached curtain to look outside. She shove the curtain away and looked town.

'Hey, there's something here!' she said surprised taking a box. It was a small box with beautiful ornaments and a little handle on its side. 'It looks like… it's a music box!' she announced happily. Shaoran was staring at the box with the absent look in his eyes. 'Erm, Shaoran?'

'The music box…' whispered the boy. 'Its… its my mother's' he finally said. Sakura almost dropped the box.

'Your… mother's?' she asked. Shaoran nodded.

'It was a gift from father. But for some reason she wasn't fond of it' explained the boy. 'Once she came to me asking, if I like music. I don't remember what my answer was, but the next day she gave me this music box'

'That's so nice of her' Sakura said.

'Yes, but I played it only once. When Meiling had problems falling asleep. I gave it back to my mother the next day' continued Shaoran. 'It was nice, but… it wasn't mine. It was hers'

'I wonder if it still works…' said Sakura spinning the handle. Sweet lullaby-like music exited the music box. They both listened in silence till the last note. 'It sure is beautiful' agreed Sakura. 'But it doesn't belong here… I'll take it with me for now' she decided putting the box gently into her bag. They left the room and followed the corridor. Soon it turned right and ended with big wooden door. Sakura pushed them but nothing happened.

'Hm… I guess these need the key' she noted taking the corridor back to the main entrance and to the left. She passed the study room where she met Shaoran and entered the room at the end of the corridor. It turned out to be the library. Sakura astonished walked through aisles of bookcases, when she remembered the letter she took from the study room.

'Shaoran, I just remembered, I have something for you' she said. The boy stopped and looked at her surprised. Sakura reached into her bag and took out the letter. 'It says it's a letter from your father…'

Shaoran was quiet for few seconds, then approached. She passed the letter to him, but he shook his head. 'I can't hold it. Please, read it to me' he requested.

My dearest children,

As all three of you would know, our beloved Queen, your mother has passed away. Right now I feel your sadness and grief. Which leaves me with a problem.

Without the Queen, I cannot raise all three of you in the same house. My brother, your uncle, has asked me if he was allowed to adopt either of you. But after one discussion, it was becoming clear that Shaoran did not want this at all.

Shaoran, I understand why you would hate me now. Your mother loved you so much. She loved you right until she took her last breath. Please, forgive the fool I am.

I do not know what is going to happen from now on… But I promise, we will all stay together, no matter what.

With love,

Your father

'F-father?' asked Shaoran truly scared. He stepped away few steps and hold his head. 'This is…!'

'Shaoran?' Sakura asked worriedly, but Shaoran heard her voice like from very afar. Suddenly all became dark…

Shaoran was passing his father's study when he heard the King's voice.

'Yes, it is true. My wife has passed away, 3 days ago…'

'I see… what are you planning to do?' he heard another, unfamiliar voice. He knew he shouldn't eavesdrop, but he instinctively stopped and pushed his ear to the door.

'What are you referring to?' asked his father, surprise in his voice.

'I mean about the rest of your life. Because the Queen is gone' the answer was given.

'But, my dear brother Toya, I will manage to keep them here' answered the King. 'I can still keep them, even if they don't have a mother anymore'

'Really?' it sounded like the other man was calling into a question the King's decision.

'What are you suggesting then?'

'Well…' the man started and went silent for a moment. 'What if I lighten the load on your shoulders... and adopt one of your children as my own?'

'W-What?' Shaoran couldn't believe his ears. Father was going to give one them away? No, he could never do it! It's impossible! 'Why is he thinking about giving one of us up?!' he wondered, anger gathering inside of him.

'Brother, I need you to make a decision' spoke the man again, the one the father called Toya.

'I know' answered the King. 'But I need some more time. I need to explain this to children so that they understand…'

That was it! Shaoran couldn't take it anymore. He pushed the door open and entered the room.

'Father!' he shouted. Both his father and uncle looked surprised at his sudden appearance.

'Huh…? Oh… It's only you, Shaoran' said the King looking at him with a smile. Shaoran didn't smiled back. His face was stern and he looked angry. The King must have noticed that, because he started to excuse himself. 'Son, I know this seems bad, but it's not what you think it is…'

'Oh really?' Shaoran interrupted him angrily.

'Look… just let me explain…' the King tried to calm down his son, but with no effect at all.

'I don't need you to explain it' interrupted once again Shaoran. 'You're going to give one of us away!'

'Shaoran! That's not true!' cried the King.

'Don't lie! You were thinking about that!' Shaoran's anger filled his words. He couldn't stop it anymore.

'Shaoran, calm down for a minute' asked the King. 'I know what you heard may be a bad decision… but I swear we can make this work. Just believe in me, Shao-'

'YOU LIAR!' Shaoran's anger finally took over the boy. 'YOU SAID YOU WOULD TRY TO TELL US THAT WE CAN'T BE A FAMILY ANYMORE! YOU ARE A STUPID LIAR!'

'I HATE YOU!'

These were the last words Shaoran heard before blackness coming once again. Suddenly, he hear quiet, girl's voice from afar. He knew this voice, he knew he did. He grasped this voice and opened his eyes.

Sakura was kneeling before him with worried look. Seeing him opening eyes, she gave a sigh of relief.

'Thanks god' she said. 'You scared me, Shaoran. You grabbed your head and looked like you were in pain. But you didn't respond to my callind'

Shaoran looked at the girl with sad look and smiled a little. It made him warm inside thinking, that she was worried about him. And they didn't even know each other for an hour.

'I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…' he replied standing up. 'It's all better now'

'What happened?' the worried look didn't left her face.

'Father… I'm so sorry…' suddenly said Shaoran. Tears started falling from his eyes. 'I never meant to shout at you…'

'Shaoran…?' Sakura gave the boy a puzzled look.

'I… I remember that day, Sakura…' said Shaoran. 'My father didn't know what to do… he tried to get some help from my uncle… but then I went in and lost it on him…' Even more tears appeared and the boy didn't even cared to clean them. 'If… If I didn't get angry about it… and take my anger out on him… then… (sniff)… then… None of this would happen'

Sakura looked at crying boy with sadness. She didn't know what could she say to him. But she knew, what she should do. She moved closer to the boy and embraced him in a consoling hug. Shaoran was stern at first, but soon he let it go and started crying. He cried for minutes and minutes, until he finally calmed down. Then he stepped back and gave the girl a small smile.

'Thank you, Sakura. That you're here for me' he said. She smiled back with the brightest smile he ever saw.

'Hey, that's what friends are for, right?' she said. Shaoran nodded. He didn't tell that to her, but he could actually feel her hug him, feel her warmth embrace him.

'I'm okay now… Let's keep moving' he said and left the room. Sakura followed not far behind. They came back to the main entrance and noticed a stairs leading to a second floor.

'Shall we take a look up there?' asked Sakura.

'I… I want to check something in the room where we found the music box' Shaoran answered. Sakura nodded and lead them back to the room. Shaoran approached the wall with the paintings, and so did Sakura. One in particular caught her attention.

It was a painting of five people, two adults and three children. One of them, was a certain brown-haired Chinese boy. Sakura gazed at the painting with awe. Two adults, probably the King and the Queen, stood on the right side. The man's hand was put on the woman's shoulder. On the right side, on the sofa, there sat Shaoran with little 10-year-old girl on his laps. The girl has long black hair tied in Chinese buns, she wore red Chinese dress. On the centre, between the parents and the pair of siblings, stood another girl, looking slightly older than Shaoran. Her hair was brown, like Shaoran's, and long. They fell down freely without being tied in any way. She wore blue Chinese dress. All the people on the picture smile happily.

'Is this… your family?' asked Sakura looking at Shaoran.

'I think so, yes' answered the boy. 'I don't remember them well, but that's them. That's my parents' he pointed on two adults. 'The girl sitting on my laps is my younger sister, Meiling. The other one is my older sister, Feimei'

'They look nice' said Sakura smiling. 'You all look so happy'

'Because we were… at least back then…' said Shaoran. Sakura gave him surprised look. 'Say, Sakura… do you have Mother and Father?' he suddenly asked.

'Oh, I… no. Not anymore' the girl answered. The boy was shocked.

'Oh, I… I'm sorry. I didn't know-' he started excusing himself.

'No, that's okay' Sakura replied. 'My mother… was very ill. She died when I was 4. My father couldn't take it, so he left 2 years after. Luckily, Tomoyo's mother took me in and treated me as her own daughter. I really feel like part of their family'

'That's… nice' Shaoran smiled. 'Your friend's mother seems like a nice person'

'That's true' Sakura smiled too, even wider than the boy. 'I don't even remember my parents anymore… well, maybe a little'

'You shouldn't forget them. No matter what happened, they're your parents' said Shaoran. 'And they always want the best for you… I know that very well…' he felt silent again putting his head down.

'Hey, it's not your fault' Sakura grabbed the boy by his shoulders. 'What happened – has happened. We can't change the past. All we can do, is live the present with all our might' she said smiling. 'A wise man once said: Yesterday's the past, tomorrow's the future, but today is a gift. That's why it's called the present'

Shaoran smiled back. 'I never thought about that. He surely was a wise man'

'See?' Sakura smiled even wider. 'Now leave those dark thoughts and let's get going. We've got the house to explore. And mystery to unfold'

Sakura left the room leaving the boy stunned by her words. He smiled again and followed the cheerful girl. And for a moment he thought that maybe his curse will come to an end. And maybe he will be allowed to move on.